Insects. 8173 



snuggeries, during the winter months, as many as three and four larvae huddled toge- 

 ther. I have never succeeded in saving them ihroiigh the winter, the cause of which 

 I presume is their removal from their Dative salt air ; nor do they do well unless taken 

 when nearly full-grown. I have sent larvje to gentlemen iu most parts of the country, 

 and have afterwards been informed that they did not thrive. 1 have paid much atten- 

 tion to this larva, having bred it for the last live years. — Thomas G al tiers ; 9, Brenlon 

 Street, Liverpool, July 18, 1862. 



[Another and far more important error on my part appears to have escaped my 

 correspondent's notice : the eggs are not deposited on the leaves but on the stems of the 

 willow, and in a very singular manner, which I shall have to describe when priming 

 my collected observations. The laying of the eg^s on the leaves was a deviation from 

 normal habit, and prohably the result of confiuement. — Edward Nviumun.'] 



Description, of the Larva of Ennomos erosaria. — The eggs were laid on the 29th of 

 August, and hatched about the 12th of May. The young larva is almost smooth, but 

 begins to assuuie the lumps I have to describe after the second ecdysis. The posture 

 in which it rests is varied ; I have not unfrequently observed it attached to the twigs 

 of the beech, both by its legs and claspers, the middle of the body being then elevated 

 in an almost semicirc^ular arch ; again, not unfrequently it will release the bold of its 

 legs, and adhere only by the claspers ; if touched, breathed on or annoyed when in 

 this position, it invariably oscillates the fore part of its body ; but no annoyance that I 

 have tried induces this larva to fall ofif its food-plant or feign death. The head is 

 nearly of the same width as the anterior part of the body, semiporrected, and wider at 

 the mouth than on the crown. The body is narrower anteriorly than posteriorly, and 

 bears a number of wart-like protuberances — one on each side of the 3rd segment ; one 

 on each side of the 6th segment, and an elevated ridge on the back between them ; a 

 double or compound lump on each side of the 7th segment, extending to the ventral 

 surface of the segment; a large transverse lump on the back of the 9ih segment; on 

 the back of the 10th segment are two small warts ; on the back of the 12th segment 

 is a transversely-placed lump, and on this lump are two conspicuous warts, also placed 

 transversely; on the 13th segment, below the anal flap, are two parallel approximate 

 points directed backwards : in addition to these lumps, there are a great number of 

 small warts on different parts of the back, and every wart emits a short black bristle. 

 Head pale brown, a crescent-shaped white mark on each lobe of the crown, an<l a con- 

 tinuous white line across the face just above the mouth ; colour of the body dingy 

 brown, in some specimens very pale, approaching to putty-colour ; the lumps are 

 darker, and the ventral surface is paler, in some specimens greenish white. There are 

 many shades and variations of colour in different specimens, but they do not appear 

 to me suflBciently constant to demand notice. This larva has a great propensity to 

 spin, constantly drawing the leaves of its food-plant together, as if about to undergo 

 its transformation. Feeds on Fagus sylvestris (beech), and is full fed the beginning 

 of July, when it ascends to the top of the cage, and spins a few threads among the 

 leaves, like strong spiders' webs ; among these it changes to a pupa : the pupae are of 

 a pale brown-colour, mottled and reticulated with still paler, and exhibiting darker 

 lines al the junction of the segments and at the margins of the antennas and wing- 

 cases: they appear remarkably active, and wriggled out of their insecure dwellings on 

 being touched. The moths appeared from the 24th to the 28ih of July. I am 

 indebted to Mr. Wright for the opportunity of describing this species, and can only 

 notice its habits and food in confinement. — Edward Newman. 



